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How to Tie a Quilt

November 24, 2010

If you want your quilt to have a fluffier feel to it, I suggest tying it. Use a medium to high loft batting for the best effect. Tying holds all 3 layers of a quilt (quilt top, batting and backing) together by threading yarn through all 3 layers and then tying a knot to secure it.

The ties should be in evenly spaced intervals throughout the quilt top. Start by tying all of the intersections of a quilt (circled below in red). You can also place a tie in a non-intersection such as the center of a block (circled below in blue). Typically it’s good to tie every 5-10 inches which is what I’ve done below. Try not to exceed 10 inches between ties.
The 5 steps below illustrate the basics of tying and should be done after basting your quilt:

Start by inserting the needle down through all 3 layers, leaving approximately a ¼” gap, and then bringing the needle back up through all 3 layers. I suggest using yarn that’s not too thick (the thicker it is, the harder it is to thread through all 3 layers of the quilt).

Pull the yarn all the way through all 3 layers of the quilt.

Continue the above in evenly spaced intervals. When tying, start from the center of the quilt and then work your way outwards. As shown below, don’t cut the yarn (leave the string of yarn connected).

Once you’ve finished threading in evenly spaced intervals, go back and cut all of the connecting strings between the ties.

Tie a double knot, and then trim the yarn.

That’s pretty much the basics of it. It’s a simple and quick way to finish a quilt! Also, you don’t always have to use yarn when tying a quilt; just be sure to use a sturdy thread that will keep your quilt layers together. Below are some different types of yarn/thread that I like to use for tying. You can find these at your local yarn store.

Hi Kerri,I recommend using any kind of batting so long as it's fluffy. Stay away from thin battings such as Warm and Natural or Soft and Bright brand – both are great if you're going to machine quilt (i.e. they're thinner, almost fleece-like which makes them easier to run under a sewing machine because you don't get all the bunching). That's the beauty of tying…you don;t have to worry about bunching! 🙂 Hope this helps…

I'm Jenny, content editor for Martingale's Stitch This! blog. I'm working on a post about quick techniques for finishing quilts and came across your post on tying quilts. May we link up to it, and possibly feature one photo from the post as well?

When you tie a pieced top, it does not become a quilt because you do not quilt it. It is a comfort. It is never a quilt!They are never considered quilts in any juried quilt show.You can check the terminology with Gerald Roy, quilt expert, judge and appraiser pilgrimroy@tds.net

No, they were quilting bees. Because they were hand stitching the quilts. If it's tied, it's a comforter. They didn't have "bees" to tie a comforter, because it takes so little time, and one person can be done very quickly. They had quilting bees because the hand stitching took so long, if several women got together they could finish one (and have company to do so).

Only if it's stitched is it a quilt.

Though there are plenty of "comforters" sold in stores that are quilts (stitched), but because they are fluffy, are called comforters. Also, I've seen comforters called "tie-quilts." I'm not surprised lots of people are confused.

I see pins in the top, but you didn't mention a step for where to pin vs tie. I've got a wacky log cabin and want to tie is to coverup the uneven edges. Because it's got a cotton top and blended backing, it's been hard to "match" so I decided to tie it instead of quilt it.

And the little girl who'll receive this won't care whether it's called a quilt or a comforter. She'll be thankful someone made it for her.

I have a 4.5" border on a quilt and am not sure how to use the tying technique to quilt it. How would you suggest tying this portion of the quilt? Appreciate any help you can provide. Loved the tutorial!

How do quilts that are tied like this hold up in the wash? Also, I bought the thin batting because I had planned to try and sew it on the machine but as this is my first quilt I decided this might be the easiest option for me right now. Is this batting going to be a problem?

I use fabric glue to hold the edges together. I apply dots of glue very close to the edge leaving an opening for turning and let dry a couple hours. I then square up the edges and hand baste 1 inch in from the edges. No pins to worry about. Remove basting – clip corners and turn. I also use a little glue on the inside edges of the opening to keep them down so I can slip stitch the opening closed before top stitching.

You can make a square knot on the top by putting the needle and thread under the connecting thread one way the first time… then a second time the opposite direction… then go on to the next joint… much easier for those of us with arthritic fingers…

I am not young but, I remember tied quilts when I was….Tied quilts were more often than not “winter quilts” whose “batting” could be anything from an old quilt and blankets to horse blankets. Their outter fabric, top and bottom whether pieced artistically or from neccesity, were typically courser than an heirloom or wedding quilt. Many of today’s quilts are more of the heirloom, artistic, and coverlet weight varieties. It seems as if our current quilting culture is increasingly growing to accept all of our historical quilting traditions.

One of the more fascinating quilts I’ve seen in the past 20+ years was tied but also included some machine and hand quilting.

Hello!

My name is Jera Brandvig and I'm from the rainy city of Seattle. I am a quilter, author and fabric designer but first, I am a proud mother to two beautiful boys (& a furry little girl named Paige!). Click me to read more. Thank you for stopping by! ;)